 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Christopher M. Cannon, MSN, MPH, MBA, Office of Emergency Preparedness, Yale New Haven Health System, 267 Grant Street, Bridgeport, CT 06610, 203-384-3224, accann@bpthosp.org
In early 2002, the Yale New Haven Health System was contacted by the State of Connecticut Dept of Public Health to become a Bioterrorism Center of Excellence for the entire southern portion of Connecticut. As a result, the Yale New Haven Health System has worked with the State of Connecticut and the Hartford Hospital system to divide the state into two areas for working with hospitals and other healthcare entities for the purpose of developing consistent policies and programs as well as create critical capacity in order to respond to a man-made or natural disaster. Such activities include clinical treatment protocol development, laboratory response networks, statewide communications strategy, needs assessment Surveys, and equipment,supplies and pharmaceuticals. Thirty-two acute care hospitals in the state are participating collaboratively in this process.
In addition, bioterrorism planning and response regions have also been developed which utilize a common planning document to develop plans which provide for a statewide response plan for bioterrorism. Involved entities include all acute care hospitals, home care agencies, long term care facilities, community health centers, local health departments, urgent care centers and emergency medical services and voluntary organizations. The regional planning process also includes public safety entities representing local municipalities as support to the healthcare bioterrorism program development. The regions represent 169 municipalities in the state. Yale New Haven Health System is working in partnership with the state entities including the Department of Public Health, the Office of Policy and Management and the Office of Emergency Management.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Bioterrorism, Disasters
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.